[master piece]

1)The ruy lopez

An old but strong opening (deriving its name from a treatise written by Ruy Lopez de Segura, a great 16th century Spanish player). White's opening advantage is said to be held for longer in this than any other opening. Moves follow the "Épine Dorsale" until White's KB-QKt5 attack in move 3 (left).

The early attack (on the knight protecting Black's K4 pawn) is intended to make Black's counter-play in the centre difficult for him. White's problem is that Black's defence has several variations:

e4-e5-Nf3-Nc6-Bb5..




2)English opening:

White avoids early occupation of the centre and often fianchettoes his KB, putting pressure on the queen's side pawns and attacking along the QB-file (move 11, right) once Black plays P-Q4. White is thus often playing the Sicilian Defence with a move in hand, but Black has several good lines.






3 g3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 Bg2 Nb6 6 Nf3 Nc6 7 0-0 Be7 8 d3 0-0 9 Be3 Be6 10 Rc1 f6 11 Na4 Qd2



3)Queen's gambit

White's aim is eventually to create a pawn centre at Q4 and K4, coupled with pressure on the queen's side using the QB-file. In most variations of this opening the gambit is declined by Black (although the Gambit Accepted by 2..PxP is not unpopular), whereupon White seeks a Q-side minority attack.


1 d4 d5 2 c4